U.Va.
Builds A Stronger International Program Professor William Quandt
To Hold New Post, Vice Provost For International Affairs

August
31 , 2000 -- William B. Quandt,
the Edward R. Stettinius Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs,
has been named the University of Virginias Vice Provost for
International Affairs. The new position was created upon the recommendation
of the International Commission, one of the four Virginia 2020 committees
charged with envisioning the University of Virginia's third century.

Creating
a new position at the vice provost level was the top recommendation
of the International Commission, which submitted its report to U.Va.
officials in May.

The
commission identified numerous successful international programs
at the University, but many rest on the shoulders of individual
faculty members and are not widely known outside their sponsoring
departments. To turn that around, the commission urged the appointment
of a vice provost to provide university-wide leadership, believing
it to be a critical factor in promoting the coordination and expansion
of international activities at U.Va.

"We
wanted to create a center point, not centralize international activities,
which are occurring all over," said Brantly Womack, chairman of
the International Commission.

The
commission also recommended the creation of an All-University Advisory
Council and the establishment of a "significant" incentive budget,
as it proposed creating a program similar to the one adopted by
Duke University five years ago, according to Quandt. Duke was one
of five schools in the aspiration group studied by the commission,
along with Cornell University, Michigan State University, New York
University and the University of Wisconsin.

The
commission's goal is to expand existing programs by removing barriers
to participation and to launch new initiatives that fit well with
U.Va.'s strengths, and which have the potential to become internationally
recognized centers of excellence, Quandt said.

Quandt,
a former member of the National Security Council and Middle East
expert who was actively involved in the Camp David Accords under
the leadership of President Jimmy Carter, is serving a two-year
appointment as vice provost for international affairs while an international
search is conducted to replace him.

Womack
said several factors led to his recommending Quandt to fill the
new vice provost position, including Quandt's international experience,
academic prestige and background in government and administration.
Quandt served on the International Commission's task group on organizational
arrangements.

"He's
been an outstanding participant since the beginning," Womack said.

Taken
together, the commission's recommendations envision nothing short
of a cultural transformation at the University of Virginia, incorporating
an awareness of international issues across disciplines and throughout
the curriculum.

"What
does it mean to make this an international university?" asked Womack.
"It means that most students need to see the world as part of their
U.Va. experience."

Indeed,
that is what characterizes the leading schools in the field, according
to the International Commission's report: "'International' becomes
normal and universities, such as New York University or Cornell
University, accept and encourage their international dimension as
part of their basic identity. Moreover, their international achievements
have become a central part of their claim to academic excellence."

Now,
U.Va. ranks about 40th nationwide in international programs -- 37th
in the percentage of foreign scholars on Grounds; 66th in percentage
of foreign students enrolled; and with only 16 percent of its students
studying abroad, U.Va. falls well below the 30-40 percent levels
common at its peer institutions. Duke now sends 44 percent of its
students abroad at some point in their university careers, according
to Bruce Kuniholm, vice provost for international affairs at Duke.

One
of the commission's goals is to see 80 percent of U.Va. undergraduates
-- up from the current 16 percent -- participating in study abroad
by 2020.

The
U.Va. commission outlined five main elements of a strong international
program:

1)
sending more U.Va. students and faculty abroad; 2) internationalizing
the curriculum; 3) hosting more international students and scholars;
4) fostering international liaisons; and 5) sponsoring international
activities.

U.Va.
has already embarked on initiatives in several of these areas, including
the longstanding programs in the study of language, literature and
culture in Valencia, Spain, and other countries, an architecture
program in Venice, Italy, and a commerce program in Bath, England.
Closer to home, the University is building a new international residential
college with open programming and services, which is expected to
be finished in the fall of 2001, and a new building for residential
language programs, which should open in the fall of 2002.

The
commission's recommendations for new programs include an International
Institute of American Studies, which would build on U.Va.'s strong
library collection in Americana; an Institute of American Language
and Culture, which would promote the teaching of English as a Second
Language and offer foreign-born students help with their English-language
skills, both for undergraduates studying in the United States for
the first time and for graduates taking on new responsibilities
as teaching assistants; and a Center for International Medicine,
building on existing programs at the School of Medicine. The commission
believes that U.Va. has the potential to become a world leader in
these three areas.

While
the U.Va. commission has not recommended a budget, Kuniholm said
that Duke has earmarked $20 million in its current capital campaign
to fund similar international initiatives.

Quandt
expects to spend the coming months establishing contacts with
faculty members and administrators throughout the University, working
to expand the International Studies Office, and updating and improving
the International Studies Office web page. He also will be working
closely with the administration and development officers to establish
priorities, estimate costs and determine ways of raising the necessary
funds.

Contact:
Charlotte Crystal, (804) 924-6858

FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: please contact
the Office of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television
reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550.SOURCE: U.Va. News Services